MidlandToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). This letter concerns what the reader views as political gamesmanship over the new downtown parking system.
Dear Editor,
By trying to 'come to the rescue' of the townspeople by rushing to debate a motion to pause parking, Councillor Bill Gordon has, to my way of thinking, made it more difficult to deal with the genuine problem with parking.
Most importantly, by rushing to a debate instead of a notice motion (or even a notice of a motion to have public meeting) the councillor did not leave enough time for anyone else to prepare and present their concerns with the parking system (and there are many).
Next, since the council defeated the motion (because it was a hare-brained approach, even if a pause would have been the right course of action, given time to properly contemplate the concerns), it becomes harder for council to address the issue during this budget season (maybe even this term of council) as there are rules about rehashing the same issue at council meetings.
Finally, in my opinion, with the dramatics and methods he has employed he has made it more political than it needed to be. This could have been handled in a more sober and reflective manner, and that would have created a better outcome for all.
Process matters, and slow and steady wins the race, especially when it comes to matters of government.
Let's solve the parking issues, not play political games with them.
An annoyed Midland resident,
Daniel Dickinson
